Brooder



B. KNEPPER May 8, 1934.

BROODER Filed July '7, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l B. KNEPPER May 8, 1934.

BROODER Filed July '7, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 8, 1934 PATENT OFFICE BRO ODER

Bonnie Knepper, Dewitt, Iowa Application July 7, 1932, Serial No. 621,253

8 Claims.

This invention relates to brooders and has for its object the provision of a novel brooder whereby the chicks will be furnished the necessary warmth and comfort and will be protected from contact with highly heated surfaces so that the danger of burning will be avoided. Another object of the invention is to provide for thorough circulation of the heating currents without liability or" the brooder surfaces being ignited and also to insure proper ventilation. The invention also has for its object the provision of novel means for maintaining combustion at the lamp or heater and the provision of means whereby the lamp or heater may be easily inspected when cleaning or repairing is needed.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a side elevation of a brooder embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the brooder canopy showing the same as it appears before the finishing step is applied thereto,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing a portion of the canopy after the finishing step is applied thereto.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the supporting legs.

In carrying out the present invention, there is provided a base member 1 which is preferably in the form of a cylinder set on end and to the outer side of which are secured the lower members 2 of legs which project above the upper edge of the cylinder and are formed at their lower ends with outwardly projecting feet 3 adapted to rest upon the floor of the brooder chamber. At the upper end of the cylindrical base member 1, there is provided an outwardly projecting annular flange 4 which bears against the inner edge of the brooder canopy. The brooder canopy is indicated as an entirety by the reference numeral 5 and is preferably of circular form having an opening 6 at its center of proper diameter to fit closely around the base member. The canopy is preferably formed of two plies of textile material, indicated at '7 and 8, which are sewed together by concentric rings of stitching, indicated at 9, and between these plies of textile material feathers 10 are disposed, the sewing of the two circular sheets or plies of material forming, in eifect, a bag which is filled with the feathers. The lower or under ply or sheet of material is then cut on curved lines concentric with and between adjacent rows of stitching whereby the undersheet will be separated into a series of depending strips, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5. The feathers 10 will then, of course, be allowed to hang from the canopy, also as shown in Fig. 5, but will be securely retained in place. A light wire retaining ring 11 is applied to the outer edge of the canopy and disposed within a hem 12 extending around the entire margin of the canopy whereby the canopy will be kept in shape.

A roof plate 13 is disposed above the canopy and is formed of sheet metal of a conical formation with its apex removed, thereby providing an opening 14 defined by an upstanding flange 15, the lower margin of the roofing or cover plate being rolled about the lower edge of the canopy to aid in supporting the same and maintaining the shape thereof. To the roof plate 13, adjacent the opening 14 thereof, I secure the upper ends of upper leg members 16, the inner portions of which are bent downwardly and overlap the upper ends of the leg members 2, the overlapped ends being secured together by bolts 17, as shown in Fig. 6, and the members being provided with slots 18 whereby a telescopic construction is attained and the legs may be adjusted so as to support the cover at any desired height. A cylindrical screen 19 is secured within the cover plate concentric with the opening 14 at the top thereof and extends from the base member 1 to the flange 15 so as to prevent the passage of flame to the space above the brooder canopy, as will presently more fully appear.

The heat for the brooder is supplied by a lamp burner 20 which is carried by a tank 21 to contain oil for supplying the burner and said tank 21 is of proper diameter to fit easily within the base member 1 and rest upon the floor of the brooder chamber, as will be understood upon referenceto Fig. 2. Preferably, the tank is spaced inwardly from the base member 1 so that the base member will not be unduly heated and will, consequently, not be apt to burn chicks that may possibly come in contact therewith. The tank is provided with concentric walls 22 rising from its top in spaced relation to the burner, thereby providing an annular trough or chamber 23 to receive water so that the air above the brooder canopy will be properly humid and any possible sparks or soot which may be given off from the wick of the burner willbe caught andextinguished. The provision of the cylindrical screen 19 permits the hot currents from the burner to readily circulate over the brooder canopy but will prevent the passage of sparks or other live embers which may set fire to the canopy. A deflector 24 of conical form is disposed within the screen 19 and at the inner sides of the leg members 16 so that it will be arranged above the burner and concentric therewith and will serve to deflect the hot currents rising from the burner so that they will be directed to and through the screen to circulate over the canopy. The margin of the deflector is preferably notched, as indicated at 25, so that it may slidably engage the leg members 16 and be thereby held in its proper position. Rising centrally from the deflector and welded or otherwise intimately united therewith is a chimney 26 having openings 27 in its side whereby the air rising from the space above the canopy may enter the chimney and thence escape to the open air. Fixed to the chimney, as by brazing or soldering or otherwise, is a cover or lid 28 which has its lower edge formed into a rim or flange 29 adapted to engage about the flange 15 of the roof plate 13 so that it will be properly positioned upon the device and this lid or cover is held against accidental removal by latches or spring-pressed plates 30 mounted upon the roofing plate 13 and engaging over the edge of the cover, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Inasmuch as the lid 28 is permanently united with the chimney and the chimney, in turn, is permanently united with the deflector 24, removal of the cover or lid will, of course, withdraw the deflector and chimney and thereby expose the heater so that it may be inspected whenever desired without disturbing the brooder canopy and, consequently, irritating the young chicks.

In order to supply air to the burner for supporting combustion, an air duct 31 is provided between the canopy and the roof plate 13 with its inner end opening through the screen 19 immediately adjacent the outer wall 22 of the burner support and its outer end opening through the roof plate, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided an exceedingly simple brooder whereby the chicks will be furnished the necessary warmth without being liable to be burnt, and the use of feathers as a part of the canopy will give the chicks the same feeling of comfort which is derived from hovering under the wings of a mother hen. The extensible nature of the supporting legs permits the brooder canopy to be raised as the chickens grow so that they will be accommodated Without discomfort as long as the use of the brooder is desirable.

I claim:

1. A brooder having a canopy consisting of two plies of sheet material, concentric rows of stitching connecting the plies of material, and feathers filling the space between the two plies of material, there being incisions in the under ply between adjacent rows or" stitching to permit the feathers to depend therefrom.

2. A brooder consisting of a base member, a brooder canopy extending around said base member, a roof plate having an inner edge disposed above the base member and provided with an outer edge fitting over and connected with the outer edge of the canopy, and means secured to the base member and connected with the inner edge of the roof plate for supporting the latter.

3. A brooder comprising a base member, a canopy fitting around the upper edge of the base member, a roof plate having an inner edge disposed above the base member and having an outer edge fitting over and connected with the outer edge of the canopy, vertically adjustable telescoping legs secured to the base member and connected with the inner edge of the roof plate for supporting the roof plate, and fastening devices engaging the telescoping legs whereby the canopy may be adjusted vertically and supported in adjusted position.

4. A brooder comprising a cylindrical base member, a brooder canopy extending around the upper edge of the base member, a roofing plate supported above the canopy and having an inner edge disposed above the base member and an outer edge bent over and connected with the outer edge of the canopy, a cylindrical screen, and means for supporting the screen between the base member and the inner edge of the roofing plate.

5. A brooder comprising a supporting structure, a canopy extending around said supporting structure, a roof disposed above the canopy and having inner and outer edges, the outer edge being bent over and connected with the outer edge of the canopy and the inner edge connected with the supporting structure, a heater arranged within the supporting structure, a removable deflector, and means for securing the deflector above the heater whereby to direct heat into the space between the canopy and the roofing plate.

6. A brooder comprising a supporting structure, a brooder canopy extending around the supporting structure, a roofing plate connected with the supporting structure above the canopy and having its outer edge bent over and united with the outer edge of the canopy, a heater dis posed within the supporting structure, a substantially conical deflector above the heater to direct heated currents into the space between the canopy and the roofing plate, means for supporting the deflector, and an air duct extending through the space between the canopy and the roofing plate and having its intake disposed adjacent the outer edge of the roofing plate and its discharge and arranged beneath the deflector to supply air to the heater.

'7. A brooder having a canopy consisting of textile material, textile strips depending from the canopy, feathers interposed between the depending strips and canopy and extending downwardly on opposite sides of said strips, and fastening devices extending through the strips, feathers and canopy for securing the parts to gether.

8. A brooder comprising a supporting structure, a canopy extending around the supporting structure, a roofing plate having an outer edge bent over and permanently secured to the outer edge of the canopy, said supporting structure including means for supporting the roofing plate, a heater within the supporting structure, a substantially conical deflector mounted within the supporting structure above the heater, a chimney rising from the deflector and united therewith and having openings in its side, and a lid encircling the chimney and united therewith and resting upon the roofing plate around the supporting structure.

BONNIE KNEPPER. [L. S.] 

